A survey of the nutrient content and intake of the dry season diet consumed by captive Grand Cayman iguanas (Cyclura lewisi)
Citation
Ward AM, Dempsey JL, Bernard JB. 2005. A survey of the nutrient content and intake of the dry season diet consumed by captive Grand Cayman iguanas (Cyclura lewisi). In Graffam W, Hellinga D, Maslanka M, Ward A, Eds. Proceedings of the Sixth Conference on Zoo and Wildlife Nutrition, AZA Nutrition Advisory Group, Omaha, NE.
Abstract
Nutrient concentrations were determined in foods consumed by both free ranging and captive Grand Cayman iguanas (Cyclura lewisi). Plant collection and nutrient intake was measured during the dry season, when mating is known to occur. Fourteen species of plants known to be consumed by free ranging iguanas, or thought to be historically consumed when their distribution was not limited, were collected and analyzed. The plant parts were separated and categorized for analysis as flowers, fruits, or leaves. Mean nutrient concentrations and standard errors (SEM), on a dry matter basis (DMB), included protein (CP) 13.39% ± 1.28, acid detergent fiber (ADF) 25.12% ± 2.23, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) 37.23% ± 2.35, and crude fat (FAT) 3.82% ± 0.39. Nutrient concentrations were analyzed in diets offered and consumed by captive iguanas held for breeding at a headstart facility on Grand Cayman. Captive diets were comprised of plants collected on the island, and known to be consumed by free ranging iguanas. Diets consumed by a pair of adults and a pair of sexually mature juveniles respectively were 8.69 and 11.05% CP, 29.92 and 34.61 % ADF, 38.50 and 44.35% NDF, and 4.11 and 3.79% FAT. The adult pair consumed a lower protein level than that available in plants during the dry season. These captive consumption levels were low compared to those of juvenile headstart Jamaican (Cyclura collie) and Anegada (Cyclura pinguis) animals and more similar to adult Jamaican iguanas held in US zoos although dry matter intake (DMI g/d/kg body mass) and CP (g/d/kg/body mass) were the lowest for adult Grand Cayman iguanas.
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